Riga Part 2

Riga has many medieval buildings, towers that stretch into the skyline, and a great many churches. It's quite fascinating, especially from the opposite bank of the river, where the modern Riga blends quite seamlessly with the old.

                 Little things around Riga remind you of it's time under Soviet occupation

Riga, like all cities has a city museum. It's not the best ever, some of the exhibits are rather dated, and it doesn't flow particularly well, but it will fill some spare hours if you have them.

The Mortzendorf museum is a rough gem among Riga's attractions. It's a medieval house, which was under some reconstruction when I was there. It has some of the best medieval wall paintings and decorations I've ever seen, but it's sparsely furnished, and there's very little information to read, there being a few cards dotted about with some info on what you can see. Hopefully after the restoration, it will have improved, as it could be a really great place to visit. CAUTION. Those with big feet beware, you have to wear dust covers on your shoes while you visit!

                                           Just about managed to get them on!

 And finally,Paul Stradins museum of medicine. This is a museum full of funk and cool stuff. Don't be put off by the crap basement floor you start in. This museum is exciting. From Soviet experiments joining dogs together, to the first ever x-ray, to an iron lung. A museum far unappreciated by visitors and locals!

Space doggie! (I cant remember if this one returned home alive or not)

So there you have it, Riga, the second best of the Baltic state captials. Well worth a vsitit, and it's a great place to do say trips from, to Jurmala and Sigulda, which will be coming as separate posts soon :)